Good morning! 25 below zero this morning in Brainerd Minnesota …. a perfect day to BLOGGIESTA!!!!
This morning kicks off the 4th Bloggiesta weekend and I have participated every time Natasha at Maw Books has hosted this. I have said this before but I feel it is worth repeating… Bloggiesta is probably why I am still blogging today and loving it so much.
Here is the short version of that story:
When I first started book blogging on June 9th, 2009, my blog looked nothing like what it does today. I knew how to basically put up a post. That’s it. I knew nothing about changing the background color of my blog, linking, copyright,drafting new posts for the future, RSS… basically – if it had to do with blogging, I probably didn’t know it. 😀
The first Bloggiesta (my post here)was 10 days after I became a blogger and I embraced it fully. I wanted to know how to do the things I had seen on the other blogs. I literally spent every free hour I had that weekend working on my blog, doing the mini challenges and learning as much as I could. I came out of that weekend a better blogger and I know that has to do with everyone who participated in Bloggiesta and really helped me with all my questions.
Every Bloggiesta since I have participated and I have learned something new. If you have not already signed up to participate – pop on over to Natasha’s and learn more about this. You will not regret it.
My goals going into this challenge will be posted here and I will cross them off as I achieve them. I am sure I will add to this list as I think of more:
Clean up my sidebars – I have some thoughts on this – just have not taken to time to do it
Participate in all the mini challenges
Go through and update my blog tags
prep posts to books I have started or plan to be reading soon with book cover, basic synopsis and notes to make things quicker when I do write the review
Clean up posts I need to write for book completed
Prep 3 – 5 “rainy day” posts for the days I literally…. got nothing.
Visit all participants – I love seeing the other blogs!
Possible color tweak… it is kind of a Bloggiesta tradition that my blog background changes but I am not sure about that yet. Changed my mind…. I like it the way it is.
On a side note, I was just thinking how I met Natasha at BEA this past May, She was with Amy from My Friend Amy’s and it was great to meet them both because of what I see them do throughout the year to contribute to my favorite part of all of this: The Book Blogging Community. Both of these bloggers invest a ton of time into events like this Bloggiesta, and Amy hosts the BBAW (Book Blogger Appreciation Award).
Book Journey 
Awww- I love that picture of you three 🙂
Thanks Rebecca, if you ever get the chance to go to BEA I highly recommend it – I met so many wonderful bloggers!
Yay for bloggiesta! I’m there with you, I definitely have kept blogging because Bloggiesta keeps improving my blog! 🙂 I’ve participated in all of them as well and will hopefully always participate!
I cant say enough positive about it Kristen…. I know I would have just faded away not knowing how to do things or where to get advice. 🙂
Bloggiesta!!! I’m so excited for this. This is only the second time I’ve been able to participate. 😀
YAY Amanda! I am glad you are able to this time…. now if I would just quit screwing around and get to it….LOL
All I have accomplished so far is a couple mini challenges, blog hopping and a bit of twitter…. oh yeah – and 3 cups of coffee. 😛
Good luck and have fun!
Natalie
°.¸¸.•´¯`»
The Book Inn
Thanks Natalie – I am going to make a dent 🙂
Great list of goals! I’m participating in Bloggiesta too. Good luck!
Good luck to you too Christina!
Here’s to a successful bloggiesta!
Thanks Kathy!
*clicking coffee cups together*
I will be participating on some level…actually, I was thinking it started tomorrow, so now I need to get myself in gear!
This will be my third time; I remember when you did your first one, because that’s when I “met” you in the Book Blogs community.
Let’s party! Nachos, anyone?
Thats right Laurel – we did meet over Bloggiesta! And here you still are, one of my biggest commenters! 😀
Happy Bloggiesta my dear NINER friend! Stay warm.
Thanks Care! 😀
Thats quite a list, good luck.
Thanks Terry! It keeps growing to as I see what other people are doing 🙂
I look forward to see what you change on your blog! I’ve been wanting to join in with Bloggiesta each year and it always falls on a busy weekend for me. I hope to get a couple of tasks done on my blog this weekend, but know better than to commit to the actual event. Have fun!
My biggest “peeve” was my sidebars – outdated content – things I was no longer involved in…. I have almost completed that and now I need to ass a few new sidebar links 🙂
Ii started the party early, last night. My husband is coming home today from two weeks away and leaves again on Tuesday so… I needed to start early! 🙂
Good Luck, I will be back to check on you tomorrow (HA).
Bundle up and be happy you don’t live in Intl Falls today… the silver lining (-49 degrees)
Holy smokes – Mari – negative 49????? I will stay in my warm house. I LOVE my warm house! 😀
Ah, you are always too kind with your compliments Sheila! I am so happy that you have always found Bloggiesta so worthwhile. You put so much into it which is why you get so much out of it. And lovely photo of us!
Thanks Natasha – I am a huge promoter of this event! 😀 I think the more we all understand how to blog, generate traffic, etc… the more we are going to enjoy your blogging experience.
Thank you again for continuing to promote book blogs! There will be a lot of upgrades this weekend thanks to the Bloggiesta!
Cute photo 🙂 I’m going to nab your “clean-up sidebars” tip as well. Enjoy the Bloggiesta! It’s my first.
Enjoy Yvann – and take any tips you want 😀
Great list and I’m glad you didn’t change your blog color; I like the greens. Good luck and have fun!
Helen – I looked at it and decided it was really my color. 😀
You did a great job with your button, wow! Thanks for trying my mini-challenge. Good Luck!
Sure – thanks – I love doing the buttons… I even make them for other blogs. 😀
Good luck on your list!
Thanks 😀
I have known about this BLOGGIESTA few weeks/days ago when you mentioned it in your post. I have read it but then I think I am not ready yet to join.
Good luck Sheila. You almost done everything 😉
Aleetha I bet you would have done wonderful. You should go check out the mini challenges, they really help you learn more about blogging.
I now have a picture in my head of Amy and Natasha, but I’m shocked – their so darn young! They’re so knowledgeable and smart I thought they were older than that. Oy vey.
They are young Sandra! 😀